Impact of E-Learning on Medical Technology Students in Higher Education Institutions in Metro Manila

Abstract

Traditional learning conducted in the classroom setting has always been the standard for education in higher education institutions. During the COVID-19 pandemic however, most institutions opted to conduct classes through elearning to limit the spread of the virus. The study assessed the impact of the new curriculum of elearning for Medical Technology students to provide institutions a foundation on how to design lesson plans that fully utilize online learning resources and services for students to achieve the intended learning outcomes. Descriptive approach was utilized in determining the impact of elearning based on three parameters which include the learning styles, learning experiences, and learning outcomes. The respondents who participated in the study were first year to third year Medical Technology students from accredited higher education institutions in Metro Manila. The participants were chosen via purposive sampling and an online survey questionnaire was used in gathering the data. The findings showed that the students undergoing elearning are highly competent on all eight learning outcomes. This indicates that the implementation of elearning is effective among the participants. Furthermore, while the learning styles were found to not have a significant impact on the learning outcomes, the learning experiences, composed of the learning resources and the coping mechanisms, had a significant positive impact on the intended learning outcomes. Learning styles should still be taken into account, although learning experiences through online resources should be prioritized by institutions. Recommendations such as increased number of respondents and the inclusion of offline respondents for comparative studies are suggested.